It’s a Wonderful Life — A Live Radio Play: Set as a live radio broadcast from a New York City radio studio on Christmas Eve 1946; plays at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 14; Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave.; tickets $18, a $2 discount is available if you bring a new or gently used coat or jacket, which the Kentwood Players will donate to the Los Angeles Mission; 310-645-5156, www.kentwoodplayers.org.

San Pedro Art Association: Join SPAA at Crafted Port of Los Angeles to celebrate the grand opening of its booth (A-133), featuring the work of its members. 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro. 2-6 p.m. Friday.

SATURDAY

Santa at Del Amo Fashion Center: From 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Santa will be at Macy’s North, next to the Sweet Factory. Join Santa as he parades from Macy’s North to the Children’s Place. Children can participate in crafts and holiday-themed activities. Treats will be provided. Santa can normally be found in his winter wonderland at JoAnn’s Court, where he will pose for photos and listen to holiday wishes through Christmas Eve. Santa’s hours and break times are subject to change, but a general schedule follows: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Breaks: 1-2 p.m., 5:15–6 p.m.); Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Break: 2-3 p.m.).

Advertisement

Santa’s Arrival and Breakfast at Galleria: RSVP Friday at SouthBayGalleria.com for the event that will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the South Bay Galleria Food Court, Level 3, 1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach. Free breakfast and entertainment for the first 500 children, ages 2-10. Other highlights include dance contests, balloon artists and glitter tattoos. For more information, call 310-371-7546.

Kids Club: Kids will make a Rudy the Reindeer ornament for their holiday tree at a craft workshop offered by Michael’s craft store from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Sessions are 30 minutes and will be held every half-hour for ages 3 and up. Cost is $2 and includes supplies. Local stores are at 4240 Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance and 14370 Ocean Gate in Hawthorne. Go to michaels.com for more information.

Celebrity Lecture Series: The Western Museum of Flight presents “The Vietnam Air War” with Marine Corps Col. Marv Garrison. In addition to the lecture, there will be authentic aircraft on display. Western Museum of Flight, 3315 Airport Drive, Torrance. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Free for museum members and $5 for nonmembers. Call 310-326-9544.

Build a Plane Model: Western Museum of Flight is offering a Make ’N Take session as part of its Kids Love Aviation Science . The program for ages 5 to adult is on the F-4 Phantom Ferocity. Models are $14 each. 3315 Airport Drive, Torrance. 12:30-3 p.m. Saturday. Email info@wmof.com or call 310-326-9544 for reservations.

Learn About the Birds: The Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve will hold its monthly Introduction to Birds class from 9-11 a.m. Saturday. This month’s subject will be “Weather and its Effects on Birds.” 3201 Plaza del Amo, Torrance. Donations accepted. To register and for more information, call 310-782-3989.

Happy Birthday Father Serra: Learn about life in the 1800s as the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum celebrates what would have been mission founder Father Junipero Serra’s 300th birthday. There will be activities for all ages, refreshments and birthday cake at the event, which will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at 18127 S. Alameda St., Rancho Dominguez. $4 suggested donation.

Shred Day 2013: Keller Williams Realty South Bay will host a shredding event from 8:30-11:15 a.m. Saturday in the office parking lot at 23670 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. Shredding will be done onsite by South Bay Document Destruction. Donations.

Tidepool Wonders: Learn about one of the lowest tides of the year on the rocky shore at an informative slide show and then explore the area during a walk led by Cabrillo Marine Aquarium staff to the nearby Point Fermin State Marine Park. 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. 1-2:30 p.m. today and 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. Reservations required for groups of 10 or more. Call 310-548-7563.

Classical Concert: The Interludes classical music concert series presents the “Mortarotti/Tazawa Duo” in concert. First Lutheran Church of Torrance, 2900 W. Carson St. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Model Trains Exhibit: Artlife Gallery will host a model trains exhibit and live demonstrations by master modeler Santiago Aulet and artist Don Magno. Attendees will see several operating train layouts, dioramas and rolling stock, and can participate in a raffle of three dioramas during the exhibit. 1217 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach. 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Call 310-938-2511 for more information.

An Evening of Jazz: Trinity Lutheran Church presents The Best Swing Vocal Ensemble for an evening of jazz. 4783 W. 130th St., Hawthorne. 6 p.m. today. Free will donations.

SUNDAY

Alpine Kraft Bierfest: This event focuses on hard-to-find, one-of-a-kind American craft brews. It will be staged from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Alpine Village, near Torrance. Cost is $30 for 10 3-ounce tastings plus glass, $25 if purchased before Nov. 11. Music and appetizers will also be provided. For detailed information, check out Alpine’s Kraft Bierfest website.

Suds & Staches: Help Cancer Support Community-Redondo Beach commemorate “Movember” (mustache growing month) and raise awareness for men’s cancers at a “men only” fundraising event from 5-8 p.m. Sunday at Red Car Brewery and Restaurant, 1266 Sartori Ave., in Torrance. Highlights include pub food, best mustache contest, hole-in-one putting contest and a tour of the brewery. The event will also include a silent auction and an opportunity drawing with a chance to win a great prize. Cost is $75. Call 310-376-3550 to register, or visit cancersupportredondobeach.org. Proceeds will benefit free programs for prostate and men’s cancers offered by CSC-RB.

British Car Meet:. Monthly British Car Meet for those who own a British car or are interested in them. Golden Cove shopping center at the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive West and Hawthorne Boulevard. 9-11 a.m. Sunday. Call Don Newman at 530-542-3641 or e-mail drnewman2@pacbell.net.

It’s a Wonderful Life — A Live Radio Play: Set as a live radio broadcast from a New York City radio studio on Christmas Eve 1946; plays at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 14; Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave.; tickets $18, a $2 discount is available if you bring a new or gently used coat or jacket, which the Kentwood Players will donate to the Los Angeles Mission; 310-645-5156, www.kentwoodplayers.org.

BOOKS

Palos Verdes Book Sale: The Palos Verdes Library District Friends of the Library book sale, featuring many new arrivals in all subjects. There will also be several carts of clearance books and records, cassettes, CDs and VHS tapes. Malaga Cove Library, 2400 Via Campesina, Palos Verdes Estates. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the third Friday and Saturday of the month. Free. Call 310-377-9584, Ext. 553.

ONGOING

Cirque du Soleil’s Totem: Featured under a 66-foot-high blue and yellow big top will be acrobatic performers embodying the spirit of amphibians, Native American hoop dancers and even a figure from outer space called The Crystal Man. The show leaves travels to the Orange County Great Park Festival Site in Irvine starting Nov. 21, followed by a trip to the Santa Monica Pier on Jan. 17. Check it out at Berth 46, 3011 Miner St. Tickets: $50-$150; Cirque du Soleil. Read more on Totem.

Avalon’s 100 Years Celebrated: The Catalina Museum explores the last 100 years of the city of Avalon with a new exhibition. “Avalon: 100 Years of Bizarre, Fascinating and Colorful History” recalls UFOs, fires, rumrunners, prohibition and scores of celebrities. The museum, located on the ground floor of the historic Casino, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit the Catalina Museum website.

Angels Gate Cultural Center: “Picking up the Pieces: A Suicide Prevention Project,” an ongoing community art project in collaboration with residents from Harbor View House in San Pedro, in the Community Gallery; and “What We See,” featuring work by center’s studio artists, in the Community Room; on view through Jan. 10. “Gettin’ off the Ground: Contemporary Stories from an American Community,” an ongoing “rotating roundtable discussion using artwork to stimulate conversations about identity, place, fellowship, and culture,” in the Main Gallery. The Angels Gate Gallery hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro; 310-519-0936.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, University Library: “Jolt! Responding to Environmental Disasters Large and Small in Southern Los Angeles,” 200 photos and other materials from the university’s archives; most events took place within 15 minutes of the campus, including the 1933 Long Beach earthquake; on view through May 14. Hours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; Archives and Special Collections, Fifth Floor, South Wing, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson; 310-243-3895.

ESMoA: “Fame” explores the ambivalent soul of Los Angeles, the multifarious foundations of what makes things famous and the possible connections between them. On view through Nov. 24. Professional Elvis impersonator contest Nov. 14 at Old Town Music Hall. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday; 208 Main St., El Segundo; ESMoA.

Marymount Art Exhibit: Marymount California University presents the art of Andy Fedak and Angela Washko, both who use visual effects, video and animation. The exhibit is now open and will conclude Nov. 27 at 479 W. Sixth St., San Pedro.

COMING UP

Tuesday: Hot Stuff Salsa Trophy: Get hot and spicy at the 2nd Annual Firefighters Salsa Competition as 12 Los Angeles Fire Department firehouses compete over who can make the best salsa. L.A. Fire Station 61 will be defending its title. The fundraiser for the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Fireman’s Fund will take place from 11:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at El Coyote Mexican Food, 7312 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Adult food tickets are $20, $10 for children 12 and under. After-hours portion (4-7:30 p.m.) features a photo booth, “Dunk a Hunk Tank” with Firefighters, and drawings.